Locals share what’s behind those New Year’s traditions

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Everyone wants their new year to be better than the last. Many people may have a few rituals they do to bring about good luck.

News 40 talked to some local history buffs who were able to shine some light on some old wives’ tales we’ve all heard.

We love to eat here in the South, but did you know the reasoning behind what staple meals you might have for New Year’s Day?

While Glasgow historian Sam Terry says old standards are black eyed peas, hog jowls and cabbage, there’s a reason behind these choices.

“Black eyed peas symbolize coins or prosperity. Greens is of course like the script money, and that’s also prosperity,” said Brent Bjorkman, director of the Kentucky Museum at WKU.

The most revered New Year’s tradition in the states might be watching the ball drop, but there are also some other traditions out there that maybe you want to adopt, like the “Good Riddance” party.

“The whole idea was you put those pieces of paper in a box, all the family’s together and sort of ceremoniously burn it in the fireplace,” Terry explained.

Of course, traditions change as time moves forward. Not everyone has a fireplace, but almost everyone has a few pots and pans.

“Ringing in the new year with fireworks and noise makers and those things symbolize chasing away the evil spirits and starting anew,” Bjorkman said.

And there’s also traditions pertaining to how what you do on New Year’s Day will dictate your days to come.

“The first person to cross your threshold and the stroke of midnight should be a good looking, tall person, cause these are the types of people you want in your life,” Bjorkman added. “Maybe it’s kissing the one love at midnight hoping that will be the person you kiss the most during the upcoming year.”

And, apparently, you want to stay away from chicken and turkey on New Year’s, and instead eat pork.

Terry said, “Those particular fowl scratched backward in the dirt, and that was symbolic of you being sort of stuck in the past.”

“Pork is also something that’s connected to property,” Bjorkman said. “Hogs root forward and were looking forward into the new year.”